French Yule log to come...

For the Daring Bakers challenge this month it is a very daring French Yule log, also refered to as an entremet. I haven't completed this task yet. I'm in the middle and will be posting my results as I finish. I just didn't have time with the holidays to get started until now.

Here is some info:

This month's challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux.They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand

THE CHALLENGE RULE is that you MUST MAKE ALL 6 of these elements for the log:1) Dacquoise Biscuit2) Mousse3) Ganache Insert4) Praline (Crisp) Insert5) Creme Brulee Insert6) IcingThe assembly will essentially be a Dacquoise Biscuit at the bottom, and the inserts inter-layered with mousse, with an icing finish. That’s about it for rules. Oh yeah, please have fun!

My results are coming. In the meantime... here are some pretty pictures of other daring bakers results:

http://tinyurl.com/927h5o

i shot the chef

http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/28/try-it-yule-like-it/

Christmas Treats are coming...

Starting this weeking the Christmas treats are going to flow out of my kitchen to the warm homes of my friends and family. I've decide to make little boxes of treats for presents. I'm also doing a cookie swap so will be distributing all those cookies as well....what else would I do with 8 dozen cookies??

Here is my list right now:

• Chocolate Fudge
• Caramels
• Chocolate covered Marshmallows
• Truffles

I don't want to do too much cause I also wanted to make some pies and quick breads! Here is some of my inspiration:

Caramelooza!!

So the Daring Bakers Challenge for November was a Caramel Cake with Caramel icing and an optional project of making chewy caramels. Caramel is sometimes my Nemesis and sometimes my friend, so I went into this challenge looking to conquer sugar! Here is the recipe provided:

Caramel Cake with Caramelized Butter Frosting courtesy of Shuna Fish Lydon (http://eggbeater.typepad.com/), as published on Bay Area Bites (http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/).
and
Golden Vanilla Bean Caramels from Pure Dessert by Alice Medrich, Artisan Press, Copyright 2007, ISBN: 978-1579652111
Since the caramel syrup was needed for the cake and icing I set off to make this one first.

Once the sugar gets going its just a waiting game until it reaches the right temperature and color. The main problem I had was that my three thermometers all read different temperature and eventually broke. Which makes working with sugar almost impossible.

But here is a sample of my caramel syrup...

Then I set off to make the cake...which I decided to make cupcakes instead so I could take them to work and give away easier. The cake was relatively simple and I didn't have problems with it.

I had to try one before I got the icing ready.

While the caramel syrup was cooling I made the chewy caramels. Which given my thermometer state was a little tricky. Right before starting them I tried to calibrate all my thermometers to no avail....so in turn my caramels turned out a little harder than I would have liked. They are delicious though!!

Here is my finished cupcake after icing:

A fun and yummy challenge....hopefully I will get a new thermometer for Christmas so I can make more candies!!

Lavash and Salsa....1st Daring Bakers Challenge...

Greetings....what follows is my first Daring Bakers Challenge Post. We were instructed to make Lavash crackers and a Vegan Dip to accompany the crackers. That was just a little stressful for my because I know so little about Vegan food. I know they don't eat meat or dairy, but I was pretty sure there were more restrictions.
So I googled my way over to wikipedia and looked up some info on the subject. The definition per wiki is:
Veganism is a diet and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
Easy enough, or so it seems. Sentences like that have so many layers to them. I had to read to fully understand a Vegan. Like why would someone choose this type of lifestyle...I'm not judging. I understand Vegetarians a little better. They don't want to slaughter animals for food and/or don't want the bad effects of meat to poison their body. But a Vegan says animals have no other purpose but to exist.
OK, thats fine too, to each their own....I just happen to love meat and cheese. There are ups and downs to every diet that is not balanced with the food pyramid. But at least now....I know what I'm dealing with.
I made my crackers this morning and had a little trouble getting them as thin as I wanted so it turns out they are a little thick and now remind me a little bit like communion on Sunday....yikes.Rolled out in the sheet pan; not as thin as I would like...
Cut and sprinkled with topping before baking. I used an everything mix I use for bagels on half and kosher salt and sesame seed on the other half....although probably should have done it a bit heavier or used egg white instead of water because it all fall off.

Baked Lavash Crackers!! YAY!
Salsa in the making....

I hope you enjoyed reading about this conquest....it was difficult but I have succeeded!!

1st challenge...+

Yay! I have recieved my first challenge from Daring Bakers.....its a secret so I can't reveal it, but I will be posting my results here so be on the look out.

I have also been racking my brain for an awesome Halloween cake to do (not the pumpkin). We will see what I can come up with.

Also begain knitting my first sweater....gulp! Right now it is looking too big....but that I can fix....thats the way I see it anyway.

Lazy Days....Yay its fall...

So its now officially my favorite season all year. Not only does it include my favorite holiday (Halloween) it also has my favorite desserts....pumpkin pie, spice cake and and anything along those lines.



I plan on making a pumpkin cake similar to the ones that follow using two bundt cakes. Not exactly sure of the flavor combos, but I enjoy pumpkin so I know that will be on of the cakes. But my will be fabulous!




I have a Halloween party coming up for my Grandmothers 75th birthday (WOW!) I"m not sure if I'll be making the cake, but I hope so, it'll be good experience and a portfolio booster! Plus I get to dress up as its a costume mandatory party.

Daring Bakers...

Just emailed to become a member...very excited to start with these challenges. I've been seeing them all around on the web and decided it would be perfect for me.